Torsten Hewson
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v3c42: Stirrings of Spring
🕑 Added 2022-10-02 07:43:19 +0000 UTC”Alright. There we go. All clean again, my little man.” I said, as I finished tying the new, fresh piece of cloth around my son’s waist. His eyes were still closed, and there was no real response other than a little croon, but that was perfectly fine by me.
Scooping my son up into my arms, I headed back to the couch, where Meimei was sitting.
She smiled at me as I held our son in the crook of my arm. He was tiny enough that I could practically hold him in one hand. Across from us, Meihua was seated with Jinhai on her lap, and Tingfeng beside her. The two of them had been giving us advice, as we relaxed in a relative lull period… or at least until our son had to relieve himself.
Tingfeng seemed a bit amused. I was, after all, hitting the cultural “woman’s work” barrier, but quite frankly, I didn’t really care. “You know, I don't believe I’ve changed our son.” He said.
“What, never changed a diaper before?” I asked.
“No. Our maid takes care of such things.” he stated…right, they were pretty wealthy, the Zhuge clan. “Your disciples were quite eager to be of aid, Brother Jin. Why not oblige them?”
I pondered the question for a moment. He was actually kind of right. If I asked, any number of people would drop what they were doing. But…
I shrugged. “I think a man should know how to do at least some of everything.” That and it wouldn't feel right to dump everything onto them. I had helped bring this life into the world, and damn it, I was going to take care of my son by any means necessary.
Even if Meimei had outright refused a 50-50 split of the chores around child rearing. Some cultural stuff dies hard, though it was kind of funny that we had a little argument about me doing too much as a father, instead of too little.
‘Your ‘Before people’ were very strange’ She had informed me then demanded I go to sleep, and leave our son to her. I’d only pouted a little and spied a lot. Mei was beautiful in the moonlight and so was my son.
Meihua leaned over, taking a better look at the sleepy, freckled face as our son fell asleep against Meimei’s chest.
“Ah, I can’t wait until he starts smiling. That's the best part you know?” Meihua said. “The smiles. And the giggles.”
We were still a ways away from that but it was something to look forward to.
The first week after the birth passed in a bit of a blur, I’ll be honest. The early days of being a parent were a bit unfair for us, compared to other people. For one thing, we were cultivators. Waking up every two hours? It was a cakewalk for both of us, and we could keep it up, probably, for months. Enhanced senses meant we could nearly instantly pinpoint if our son was hungry, just fussy, or needed to be changed.
I could never call it easy, really, but it cut out a lot of the unknown, just being what we were. And that gave us time to enjoy ourselves.
I woke up every morning to my son sleeping on Meimei’s chest, Meimei awake before me with a radiant smile on her face. It was nice. She looked healthy, instead of having bags under her eyes like you would expect from a new mom.
It was utterly fantastic, although it was accompanied by a feeling I couldn’t describe. A paternal instinct? I don’t know, but whatever it was, I kind of liked it. The feeling was mixed with gratitude that I could be with Meimei every step of the way.
The other thing that made it pretty easy was my job.
Unlike a lot of people, I could afford to be present. I had no hour-long commute to the city and back to work, leaving me exhausted, with Meimei alone in the house to tackle everything on her own. That would have absolutely sucked. My job was right here at home, and I was kind of on vacation already. In the last days of winter there was nothing really to do. The ground was half frozen or a mud pit or like the General that Commands the Winter, just plain frozen, the towering snowman was still holding strong.
There was food and clothes and safety. I had done all that. I made a place for my family, it was a hell of an ego boost and made me feel like the king of the world.
Honestly? We were over prepared compared to most parents with their first child. I had already done some of this stuff in the Before. Never with a baby as… fresh, as this, but I knew how to change diapers and clean bare asses. Hells, I had done a stint in a wastewater plant for what felt like an eternity ago, so the smell didn’t even bother me.
Meimei though? Compared to her, even at my best she was an expert. At ten years older than her younger brother, she had been his mom, so this wasn’t her first rodeo…to say nothing of taking care of other people’s children—and ours wasn’t sick or vomiting everywhere.
Together, we could have handled everything. Together, we were more than enough.
But it wasn’t just the two of us.
As the saying went: It takes a village to raise a child… and our friends and family were all in.
Like really all in.
Meihua had offered to feed our son for the night if we needed to get some sleep. Which was a little strange to my modern sensibilities… but was apparently something of a common practice.
In this level of development? It paid to have a good friend who had given birth around the same time, to the point where some women apparently tried to plan their conception around other women... just so that they could have some uninterrupted sleep.
It also kind of made sense that Gou Ren, Yun Ren, Meiling and Meihua were so close when Hu Li mentioned that she had taken care of all of them at least once.
Other than another two mothers, ready and willing to help, we had a horde of aunties and uncles waiting in the wings in case one of us looked like we were flagging.
From the constant patrols, to the barrage of people asking if we wanted them to change diapers, Tigu for one had practiced how to tie diapers until she could probably do it in her sleep. Hell, she had made it a contest… and then Xianghua had won. There was never a moment where we didn’t have an offer of help. It wasn’t just family either, a stream of well wishers from Hong Yaowu had kept coming to congratulate us bringing gifts and advice.
It was… well, humbling to know that so many people were willing to do so much to help us.
Although not everyone had quite the same reaction. Bi De had been sitting on the little rocking crib I had made, keeping watch over him every night. Some of the apprehension I noticed after my son’s birth seemed to have faded from the Rooster… but it was still something to talk about.
I took a breath, and let it out, as I listened with half and ear to Meimei and Meihua’s conversation. I glanced out the window, at the last days that we would have snow, and let a smile cross my face.
Another year had come and gone… and despite the pain and terror when I was first arrived on this world… I was… grateful.
I could safely say… I was enjoying my life.
Running away from the chance at unlimited power was probably the best decision I had ever made.
=====================================
Deep, Deep under the ground, in a place that was, yet wasn’t, the blackened sky turned pink, with the soothing tones of the rising dawn.
The snow, save for the snow man, had all melted, exposing brown, flattened grass. The black, jagged rocks had lost some of their foreboding look in the new dawn light, reflecting the changing sky.
And within a little house on a hill, a little girl stirred. She tossed once, then turned, and then groaned, as awareness started to return to her.
First to come, as always, was the pain. It was always the first thing she felt, upon awareness. The old friend that had been with her for thousands of years.
But it felt… weaker. The ripping pain, like searing knives, was a duller ache instead of a sharp slice. Something she could almost ignore. An ever present constant in the back of her mind, rather than an impossible to ignore weight.
Her consciousness drifted in the stillness, for it was not yet entirely time for her to fully awake.
She took a deep breath in, expecting the acrid tang of impurities. The buildup that she would have to take care of. But her nose found only the scent of a merry fire.
Something told her that that wasn’t right. Perhaps something had gone wrong, and she hadn’t managed to expel the impurities within her. Her senses started to cast about. Like a man in the dark, stumbling forward.
Smell, touch—
And the taste of Qi on the wind.
Over a dozen different flavours. Over a dozen different little roads off into the distance. Meandering paths, rather than a massive, ripped open road.
Warmth. Affection.
Not pain and terror.
Her featherlight touches continued down golden links, and felt something new.
A tiny little spark of gold.
A tiny spark of gold, that was her connected ones.
Tinaln’s arms wrapped around something small, and in need of protection.
A little orb of golden light.
It was precious. It was beautiful, even with her half-consciousness.
She held it closer to her chest, in a protective embrace.
It was something she had longed to do for so long. She had never gotten to hold her two best friend’s child.
It was one of her most painful regrets. Even if they had betrayed her in the end.
As her consciousness began to fade again, however, she did have a thought. If it was a regret in the past….Well…. Ruolan’s descendant was here…
=================================
“Jinx.” I immediately called before Xiulan could say anything, recovering as she was from her own sneeze.
“Ji—” she cut off and pouted, as I rubbed my nose. Her sneeze was just about the only thing that wasn’t dainty about Xiulan. It was as loud as mine, and I caused the glass in the greenhouse to rattle.
Xiulan kept grumbling as we tended to the stocks of Spiritual Herbs, and checked on the beehive. While I spent most of my time with Mei, I did still do a few chores. The bees seemed to be doing well! After I had put them in the greenhouse, I did have second thoughts after realizing that it could have had adverse consequences for the hive but I managed to luck out. I could have accidentally killed the whole hive, which would have been bad.
Still, if they could be moved in and out with no consequences, that was pretty great!
I hummed as we worked, infusing my herbs. Xiulan’s much nicer voice flowed with mine, making a surprisingly good harmony.
We were expanding the plots, to keep producing medicine and to keep having them for seasoning. We had also managed to grow a cutting of Ten Poison Resistance herb, one of Xiulan’s wedding gifts and I couldn’t wait to get more of them. Like the Lowly Spiritual Herbs they tasted pretty good. Sweet and sour, they would make a fine addition to my slowly growing collection of tasty seasonings.
It didn’t take too long, with somebody helping me work. The pots were all finished fairly fast, the sprigs of herb growing big and strong.
I was on complete auto-pilot, as I came to my last bucket. It looked like it had already been harvested, but that was wrong. It contained the weird root that I had found, almost two years ago now.
Honestly? I gave the thing Qi mostly out of habit, and a little bit out of curiosity. I still hadn’t found out what it was—
I paused, with my hands on the soil. Squinting, I moved my finger through the dirt, until it bumped up against a slight deformation.
A small growth from the root, starting to poke out from the soil.
Huh.
“Took you a bit, huh? Well… you go at your own pace, little buddy.” I murmured.
=======================
I didn't forget about the root. I swear!
Also I think Jin gets the ire of literally every new parent in existence. Get out of here with your cultivator BS.
Editors: Oshi, Philosophysics
Comments
Imspinnennetz
Tomorrow
Georgius De Saltu
I bet it's the flower from that story mentioned in the early chapters. The one where one guy observes it blooming and the other snorts it like an addict. 1000 year flame lotus or something I think it was called.
I bet he is going to be furious that Jin has "hindered his cultivation through creating mortal ties" or something in that direction. Gramps already has established that he'll drag Jin off his farm back to the sect once the war is over iirc. Little did he know that man has married and become father xD.
Moonspike
I think yall are way overestimating how much he will care about that sort of thing. He has biological children of his own that he doesn't care about because they are disappointing. It made it clear pretty early that he took a liking to Jin because Jin reminded him of himself and that he was trying to replicate his own rise to greatness in Jin.
Quentin Long
We have not been told WTF that friggin' root is. Me, I'm betting it's connected to Earth-chan, possibly even a physical form for Earth-chan to incarnate within once it's sufficiently matured. Or I could be totally off-base. [shrug] [quizzical expression]
Arin Storm
We were told a few chapters ago that Tianlan would normally spend the winter sleeping in a metaphysical divot in the ground, exposed to the metaphysical elements, but this winter the crew built a metaphysical house for her to spend the winter in. In a more recent chapter we also saw Chunky checking in on her, cleaning up a tar like ooze that was building up in the corners, and taking it "far away", and we're told that he's done this repeatedly during the winter.
Dion Crump
I’m surprised the old man didn’t cultivator BS his way into finding out he has a grandchild and instantly drop the demon war and run to the valley
Dion Crump
Nah I think it’s great. Beware of Chicken always felt like a slow stroll through a field of wheat to me.
Carl Mason
Maybe, or there was a difference in her situation this winter compared to prior winters. We will find out in time.
V01D
Is it just me, or does it sound like the root has eaten the impurities?
mindsystem
Ah, you're right. This chapter (https://www.patreon.com/posts/71404283) for anyone curious.
carebear90
Even Tianlan is shipping Xiulan-Meiling-Jin... :D
carebear90
I forgot the chapter name, but it was the one where we had a point of view of what probably amounts to the 'big boss' demonic cultivator making a 'roll call', enquiring what his various subordinates were up to lately. It was before we had the latest pov of the Shrouded Mountain Elder. I think it was around New Years.
Arexio R.
better be a good root since you forgot about it
Pebble
"I didn't forget about the root. I swear!" Work that into the story :) What if those roots developed some kind of Qi based camouflage, or some other Cultivator BS, as a survival trait, which makes one forget about it? Perhaps it even works such that the more someone desires it, or wishes to find it, the more likely they are to not sense it (or rather they do, but they forget almost immediately), and only someone who is not really looking for it or doesn't really care that much will be able to remember it for a bit longer? I don't know what use was initially planned for it, but besides that one, another use could be to make a potion out of it that makes one very difficult to notice, which would make it highly prized among Sects and Cultivators focused on stealth (like assassins), as well as some demons who infiltrate human societies / cultivator sects. Or perhaps go the other route and have the potion make it easier to see through illusions/deceptions/etc., including seeing through demonic disguise.
Daniel Gesualdi
I predict that the weird root will gain sentience and develop a passion for singing! So it is written! Excellent chapter though Jin's experience parenting would makes some experienced parents wish for super cultivator powers.
Pierre laplant
Woo
mindsystem
@AG Where does it say that though? She is only briefly mentioned, looking back at it now, and nothing would indicate demonic cultivation other than it being tangentially related to the Shrouded Mountain. I only think it's suspicious, not confirmed.
AG
Yeah I think it was mention that she is one
Carl Mason
Definitely a demonic cultivator, she is playing the same game that leveled the Azure Mountains in the first p!ace.
Len
Jin\one of them NEEDS to get baptized by the baby...ie peed on while changing
WonderBread459
Gramps’ll probably show up on the baby’s name day or right before. It’s a good timeframe for recovering from a massive battle, and then travelling out to the farm.
mindsystem
While I know I shouldn't, I can't help but worry that that Shrouded Mountain Elder will try to take revenge for his son/pride. Especially now that Jin has his own son. Now, I'm sure there will be some sort of beat down but the tension will kill me until it happens. Also, wondering if that courtesan that encouraged his "it's a plot" mentality is a demonic cultivator or just going along to please a (probably very frightening) client.
Kyfe
Is that a g-Root?
Kyfe
Speaking of, Jin should really experiment with splicing different fruit tree branches onto one type of tree. Imagine taking mundane fruits and putting branches of them on a type of tree that naturally produces fruits with high Qi in them. Add Jin's fairy land bonus to it...
Kyfe
Hopefully she's not like my daughter who will sometimes wake up a couple hours after going to sleep and be awake until 4 or 5am (she just turned 4)
Dwayne Parker
Wonder if the peaches from Washi will bear fruit this year.
Robert Mullins
Pretty certain it was explained before that it's tradition to wait a few months before naming the kid. Due to historically low survival rates of newborns.
Garrett
They don’t name their children until they’ve survived their first hundred days. Infant mortality is pretty high in times and places without reliable medical care so it’s a good practice not to get too “attached” before the baby has proven it has what it takes to survive. This little one is basically guaranteed to live a long life, but there’s no harm in following tradition!
Justin
The 'root' of the problem is that we still have no name!!! Also as a parent of young kids cultivating is BS! Fun chapter, thanks!
Paul S.
My daughter is nearly 2 years old and she STILL doesn't really sleep through the night. Waking up at least twice (around midnight and again around 3am)
Prent
All hail the root!
Darune Albane
Something that someone would go to war for?
Sean Ulrich
Tianlan herb clone Jutsu!
Ahad Mahmood
By crafting legendary poisons oon the level of Sky cultivators that only cause irritation to the gang
Zygardegodslayer
Go weird herb! Woooo1
Moonspike
That's a horrible idea. How will Mei Mei prank them if her poisons don't work.
Moonspike
Yeah it's nice that they didn't beat themselves to death on the glass or something.
Sebastian Rubin
I think they meant more specifically - considering how all of the bullshit cultivator herbs are growing like insane in Jin's care, what the heck is this thing that it took two years of being soaked in his Qi before it even began to sprout a single root?
Demian Buckle
Thank you for the Chapter.
SilasDrekken
Probably later on. I don’t think we can time skip much atm. Gramps is likely on his way. He’ll probably be there by summer if I had to guess, unless he gets really sidetracked by the sect or the emperor on his way there.
SilasDrekken
I had the same thought about the TPRH. The future POV of a hapless assassin pulling their hair out over all the failed attempts on one of Fa Ram’s people.
Npad11111
Don't lie, you did forget about the root didn't you..... 🤣
BargleNawdleZouss
Random thought: we didn't hear too much about the maple harvest. How much more did they collect this year? What new methods of collection, preparation, and storage do they have? Back to the main plot, it will be hilarious if Jin and all the Fa Ram team become impervious to all poisons due to the use of the TPRH as a seasoning. I look forward to that as a plot point!
Artur Vogt
Do we get a time skip for the kid to grow up a bit?
Harish
Short but sweet. Definitely need to speed up a bit though. Also, Cultivation Parenting be OP
Green0Photon
The mysterious root from the first few chapters
Nemo
AH, new chapter, I love it, glad the bees are okay ^^
Izzyt100
Tianlan
Yuanlong Dai
What is that god dang root LOL 😂
